Farmworkers can learn more about their labor rights and workplace safety protections as a mobile informational caravan makes multiple stops across the Central Valley this weekend.
UC Merced's Community and Labor Center is one of several partners involved in the outreach effort being launched by the California Labor Commissioner's Office, California Department of Industrial Relations and Cal/OSHA.
The caravan, which runs from Thursday, June 24, through Sunday, June 27, will offer information about workers' rights to paid sick leave for COVID-19, including time off to get vaccinated, as well as protection from retaliation. Agricultural workers will also be able to learn more about heat illness and protection.
The events will also highlight ways public agencies can work with community-based organizations for public education and outreach regarding workplace health and safety and COVID-19 worker protections, rights and resources.
Interested farmworkers won't need to travel far to attend. The events are being held at several fields and COVID-19 vaccination sites in the Valley.
On Friday, June 25, organizers will hold a press conference to officially kick off the informational caravan, from 11 to 11:30 a.m. at the Agricultural Labor Relations Board office, 1642 W. Walnut Ave., Visalia.
Organizations in partnership with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) COVID Workplace Outreach project (CWOP) will be on hand to provide information to workers in multiple languages. Dolores Huerta, current president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and co-founder of the United Farm Workers, will be among the speakers. Representatives will be available for interviews in English, Spanish and Mixteco.
For more information about the caravan, people can contact MaiKa Yang with the Community and Labor Center at myang118@ucmerced.edu.
Here is a list of the caravan's scheduled stops:
Thursday, June 24
- Outreach in the fields
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Veterans Memorial Park
1698 County Park 2
Atwater
- COVID-19 rapid testing event
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Planada Community Center
Houlihan Park
9167 Stanford Ave.
Planada
Friday, June 25
- Press conference
11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
ALRB office
1642 W. Walnut Ave.
Visalia
- Caravan tour to fields
12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
From Visalia to Armona in Kings County
- Community outreach and vaccination event
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Armona Community Center (at middle school)
11115 C St.
Armona
Saturday, June 26
- Outreach event
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Westside Family Preservation Services Network office
36618 S. Lassen Ave.
Huron
- Outreach event
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Panaderia de Dios
17051 Myrtle Ave.
Huron
Sunday, June 27
- Vaccination clinic
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sikh Temple
2765 Peach Ave.
Livingston
- Vaccination event
2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
St. Stanislaus Catholic Church
1416 Maze Blvd.
Modesto
